Electric welding machine



y 1933- M. E. LOBLEY 1,906,323

ELECTRIC WELDING MACH INE Filed Dec. 19, 1930 4 etshe t l M. E. LOBLEY 1,906,323

ELECTRIC WELDING MAQHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 2; 1933.

R M 6 h/ Y II I l ATTORNEY May 2, 1933 M. E. LOBLEY ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1930 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 ATI'QRNEY May 2, 1933. M E. LOBLEY ELECTRIC WELDI NG MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec, 19, 1930 ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAX EDWIN LOBLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CIRCULAR DOOM OOJEPANY, 1170., DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELEGIBIG WELDING E Application filed December 19, 1980. Serial No. 503,351.

My invention relates to improvements in the art of electric welding, and has particular reference to improvements in transformers providedwith spaced electrodes adapted to engage a tubular metal blank adjacent to a lap or seam extending longitudinally along y the blank.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a transformer having spaced electrodes, means to guide and propel a tubular metal blank in contact withthe electrodes, and means pivotally supporting the transformer on an axis substantially transverse to the path of travel of the tubular blank and parallel with the axis of the electrodes, whereby the electrodes are maintained in operative rotary relation to the metal blank.

My invention also includes means to adjust the relation of the electrodes to the metal blank on an arc derived around the axis of the supporting means for the transformer, whereby the position of the electrodes with relation to the tubular blank may be adjusted according to the diameter of the blank and the desired pressure of the electrodes thereon.

My invention also comprises novel details of improvement that will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of an electric welding apparatus embodying'my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, part bein omitted;

ig. 3 is a cross section on line 3, 3 in Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is a detail side view, partly in section on line 4, 4 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a, detail section on line 5, 5 in Fi 4;;

ig. 6 is a plan view, Fig. 7 is a section of line 7, 7 in Fig. 4; gig. 8 is a partly broken front elevation; an

Fig. 9 is a detail view. Similar numerals of reference indicates corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 indicates a rotary transformer provided with annular electrodes 2 and 3 that are spaced apart and insulated from each other, as by interposed insulation at 4. Said electrodes are connected with the respective sides of the secondary of the transformer. Electric current may be supplied to the primary of the transformer in any suitable way, as by means of collector rings 1a and 1b engaging brushes 1e and 1d in the supply circuit, in a well-known way, (Fig. 6). The transformer l'is of a wellknown kind of rotary transformer in which the primary and secondary rotate together and with the electrodes. The transformer illustrated is of the variety set forth in Letters Patent #1,478,262, issued December 18, 1923, to Snodgrass and Hunter. The transformer rotates on its longitudinal axis, which coincides with the common axis of the electrodes. In the example illustrated the longitudinal axis of shaft 5 of the transformer is journaled in bearings 6a, 6b of a frame 6, shown in yoke-like form, (Fig. 6 The frame 6 is journaled on an axis at spaced from and parallel with the axis 5 of the transformer, as illustrated in Fig. 2. As shown, the axis 7 comprises a shaft that is supported by a standard 8 of main frame 9, F1 g. 4, whereby. the transformer and the electrodes may be adjusted on an are described around the axis 7. The portion 6f of frame 6 that carries the bearing 6a is shown in the form of an arm that is detachably carried by said frame, and may be secured to the frame by screws 6". The arm 6 may be pulled outwardly to remove the bearing 6a from shaft 5 to permit access to the electrodes, and to enable them to be removed from the transformer and be replaced as required.

At A. is. a tubular metal blank of a wellknown construction adapted to be engaged on opposite sides of its longitudinal lapped portions a and a", or a seam having abutting edges, in a well-known Way. The electrodes 2 and 3 have suitably curved surfaces at 2a and 3a adapted to contact with the adjacent curved surface of the metal blank A in a well-known way. Suitable means are provided for guiding the blank A and retaming it in contact with the electrodes for the flow of electric current from one electrode to the other through the metal of the blank at the lap or the seam thereof. I have illustrated spaced guiding rollers 10 and 11 suitably supported on vertical pivots at 12 and 13, carried by blocks 14 and 15, on a support 16 of the main frame 9. Said rollers 10 and 11 may be adjusted transversely with respect to the blank A by suitable means, such as by screw means 17, Fig. 2. To resist the pressure of electrode 3 against the lapped port-ions of the tubular blank A I provide a roller B carried by a frame C within the blank, the roller being adapted to engage the inset portion a of the blank while the electrode 3 engages the outer lapped portion a of the blank, (Fig. 3). A roller D carried by the frame C engages the roller B and the bottom wall of the blank. Side rollers E carried by frame C resist lateral thrust of the frame. An arm or tube 40 within the blank may be secured to frame C to retain it in position opposing the electrodes. A pair of grooved rollers, 18, 19, are journaled on support 20 on the main frame which rollers provide a guiding pass for the blank A on one side of the electrodes, and a pair of grooved rollers, 21 and 22 are journaled upon support 23 on the opposite side of the electrodes, said rollers providing a guiding pass for the blank A, whereby the blank is guided as it travels with respect to the electrodes. The rollers 21 and 22 may be used as compressing means for the welded seam, particularly when a lap-weld is formed on the tube. A pair of grooved rollers, 24 and 25, are carried by shafts 26 and 27 journaled in uprights 28 on the main frame, and intermeshing gears 29 and 30 on said shafts cause them to rotate in unison. Either of said shafts may be power driven. A pair of grooved rollers 31 and 32 are carried by shafts 33 and 34, journaled in spaced uprights 35 on the main frame, which rollers provide a pass between for the welded tube. The shafts 33 and 34 are provided with intermeshing gears 36 and 37, whereby said shafts will be driven in unison, and either of said shafts may be power driven. Desired pressure of the rolls 24 and 25 on the tube blank may be effected by means of screws at 38, and pressure of the rolls 31 and 32 may be effected upon the welded tube by means of screws 39. Figs. 1 and 2. By means of tube 40 within the tube blank A, cooling water may be supplied within the blank in a well-known way. The rollers 24, 25 and 31, 32 may be used as feeding rollers for the tube.

I provide means to adjust the position of the electrodes 2 and 3 with respect to the tube blank, according to its transversediameter, and with respect to the desired pressure of the electrodes thereon. The frame or yoke 6 is provided with an arm 41, which extends upwardly and over the transformer and is provided with a tubular sleeve 42 in which a shaft 43 is slidably fitted, (Figs. 4 and 7). The sleeve 42 is shown rotatively supported to rock in a recess or fork 44, in the arm 41, by means of screws 45 carried by said arm and shown provided with reduced ends 45a received in recesses 42a in the outer surface of the sleeve 42, (Fig. 7). The shaft 43 is shown provided with screw threads at 43a, said threads being operative in a threaded bore 46a in a nut 46 that is pivotally carried by an arm or bracket 8a, extending upwardly and forwardly over the transformer from the standard 8, (Fig. 4). The arm 8a is shown provided with a recess 8?), in which the nut 46 is located, and said arm is shown provided with screws 47 having reduced ends 47a, received in recesses or bores 46?), in the outer surface of the nut 46, (Fig. 7), whereby the nut is journaled on a horizontal axis. The shaft 43 is provided with an abutment or stop, such as a collar 48 secured to the shaft by a pin 49, (Figs. 4 and 7), which abutment bears against the sleeve 42. A spring 50 operates against the sleeve 42 and against the arm 8a, to resist thrust of the electrodes toward the blank A. I have shown the spring 50 in the form of a coiled spring surrounding the shaft 43, and hearing at one end against a collar 51, that engages the sleeve 42, and against a stop place 52 hearing against the depending forked or recessed portion 8 of arm 8a, (Fig. 4). I provide means to vary the pressure of spring 51 against sleeve 42, as shown in Fig. 4. The collar 51 is shown comprising two members 51a and 51b adjustably connected together by screw threads, at 510. As shown, the member 51a bears against sleeve 42 and the member 51?) bears against the spring 50. By rotating one of said members the collar 51 may be lengthened or shortened against the spring 50 and thereby the pressure of the spring may be varied between the sleeve 42 and the outer end of arm 8a. The free end of shaft 43 is movable in the fork 8, and may be guided thereby from lateral thrust. A hand wheel or crank, 53, is shown secured on the shaft 43, whereby the latter may be rotated at will.

\Vhen the tube blank is to be welded at its overlapped portions a, a", or along its longitudinal seam, it is guided and traversed longitudinally in the manner described so that the electrodes will contact with the blank on opposite sides of the lap or seam. The relation of the vertical position of the electrodes with respect to the tube blank, and the pressure of the electrodes thereon, may be adjusted or controlled by rotating the shaft 43. By rotating said shaft in one direction, the collar or abutment 48, by engaging the nut 42, will cause the frame 6 to rotate on its axis 7, to depress the electrodes toward and in contact with the tube blank for varying the pressure of the electrodes thereon as desired. After such setting of the electrodes, further depression of the electrodes toward the blank A will be resiliently resisted by the spring 50. By reason of the pivotal support of shaft 43, at the screws 47 as well as the ability of the sleeve 42 to slide on the shaft 43, the electrodes have limited up and down or arcuate movement around the axis 7 as the tube A travels in the direction of the arrow m in Fig. 2. When the shaft 43 is rotated in a direction reverse to that previously described, the collar or abutment 48 will recede from the sleeve 42, and the spring 50, by

pressing against said sleeve, will serve to cause the arm 41 to tilt upwardly, whereby the electrodes will be raised more or lesswith respect to the tube blank A, and will be retarded by the spring against descent toward the blank until the shaft 43 is again rotated in the desired direction.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. An electric welding apparatus comprising means to guide and traverse a metal blank, spaced electrodes having a common axis to engage the blank, means pivotally supporting said electrodes at a common point at one side of their axis, and means to adjust said electrodes toward and from the blank,

including means to resiliently resist the movement of the electrodes in the direction of-the blank. 7

2. An electric welding apparatus comprising means to guide and traverse a metal blank, spaced electrodes to contact with said blank, a frame pivotally supporting said electrodes, means pivotally supporting said frame at one side of the axis of the electrodes, a threaded shaft, pivotally supported means cooperative with the threads of the shaft, and means, cooperative between said frame and said shaft for adjusting the electrode and the frame in an arcuate direction around the axis of the frame. I

3. An electric welding apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including means to resiliently resistmovement of said frame in one direction.

4. An electric" welding apparatus 'comprising means to guide and traverse a metal blank, a rotative transformer provided with spaced electrodes on a common axis, a frame pivotally supporting said transformer and electrodes, means pivotally supporting said frame at one side of the axis of the transformer, an arm connected with said frame.

and provided with a sleeve, a threaded shaft weightof the transformer is resisted by said spring.

' 5. An electric welding apparatus provided with means to guide and traverse a metal blank, a transformer provided with electrodes to contact with said blank, a frame pivotally supporting said transformer, a standard pivotally supporting said frame, a nut pivotally supported by said standard, a threaded shaft cooperative with said nut, a sleeve slidably receiving said shaft, means pivotally supporting said sleeve on said frame, said shaft having an abutment cooperative with the sleeve, and a spring cooperative with the sleeve on the side opposite the abutment, said arm having a portion opposing the spring.

6. An electric welding apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the arm is provided with a recess movably receiving said shaft.

MAX EDWIN LOBLEY.

slidable within the sleeve, a pivotally supported nut receiving thethreads of said shaft, the shaft having an abutment operative with said sleeve, a spring operative on the side of the sleeve opposite the abutment, and means reslsting said spring, whereby the 

